Job Description
Oxford City - PCVS Home Visiting Clinician
The Role
The Primary Care Visiting Service (PCVS) has been running in the City of Oxford since April 2018. It provides assessment to acutely unwell patients that are unable to travel to their surgery. From December 2021 the service has expanded its scope to include visits for ‘sub-acute’ issues, including post-discharge reviews. The service is delivered by a team of experienced clinicians, comprising paramedics, nurse practitioners and physician associates. Its aim is to provide care closer to home, reduce hospital admissions and relieve workload pressures on GP practices in Oxford City.
PCVS practitioners are allocated to geographical zones based on postcode areas in Oxford City, covering the 19 member practices. Patients are then seen by the PCVS Practitioner, equipped with a laptop and mobile phone that allows direct access to the patient’s full electronic records and to document their findings in real time.
We are now looking to recruit additional members to the PCVS clinical team as experienced
Nurses and/or Paramedic Practitioners. This will bring added resilience to the service; additional skill sets and assist the continuing delivery and design of the service. The post holder(s) will be expected to visit approximately 7 patients per day in their own homes and autonomously undertake clinical assessments of acutely unwell patients on behalf of the referring GP. Once the patient has been seen, clinical diagnosis and a management plan can then either be formulated by the visiting clinician (depending on their clinical expertise) or in collaboration and discussion with the patient’s own GP. Prescribing is not required as this will be actioned by the patient’s own GP.
In addition, the post holder may have the opportunity to take part in practice-based work and support can be offered to those undertaking ‘Roadmap to Practice’ (where applicable). There are opportunities for mentorship and teaching from an experienced GP, which can help continuing professional development. There will also be opportunities to pick up additional shifts, if you require.
Key Responsibilities/ Clinical Responsibilities
- To independently undertake clinical assessments of unwell patients when they have been referred to the service by their GP. The patients will have been mostly referred for a new acute medical problem or flare of a chronic condition and will be seen in their own home.
- To consider a differential diagnosis and formulate a management plan, if clinically appropriate and confident to do so and on an individual case by case basis
- In all other circumstances the post holder will be encouraged to pro-actively discuss with a primary care doctor i.e. when there is clinical uncertainty, prescribing or higher level decision making is needed
- To form an effective clinical relationship with the patient and reflect their ideas, concerns and expectations when formulating a management plan
- To give clear and accurate safety netting advice to all patients and their next of kin
- To make full use of the IT systems in place and document clinical findings in real time to the patient's
Electronic GP record
- To prevent hospital admission via early visiting and making full use of primary care services to provide community based urgent care
- To identify actual or potential clinical/safeguarding risks and take appropriate action using, when required, the appropriate reporting structure
- To manage your day efficiently and factor in travel time, clinical examination, discussion with primary care/community services and if needed onward referral
- To be confident with lone working and understand and comply with systems in place to ensure personal safety
- Work within clinical protocols and guidelines that are local to the area
- To follow protocols designed to streamline the communication between PCVS visiting clinicians and primary care
- To comply with infection control and hand hygiene policies and to engage with additional training if needed or requested including audits of infection control practices
Service Responsibilities
- Work to the vision, values and behaviours of the wider organisation, presenting a professional and caring image to all service users
- To maintain strong relationships with practices by working to ensure a high-quality service for them and their patients
- To attend regular team meetings with other visiting clinicians, the management team and the PCVS
- To collect data, and provide service information to the senior leadership team as required
- To contribute to the development and establishment of systems to gather feedback from patients
- To ensure that the senior leadership team and the unit lead are kept informed of service issues and potential risks that may interrupt service provision
- To manage and participate in regular audit and other legislated policy standards
- To work with the senior leadership team to meet the Clinical Governance needs of the service; including investigation of incidents (including serious incidents) and complaints, where required, sharing learning that arises from the investigations within the service with the wider team
- To have good interpersonal skills and communicate effectively with the immediate and wider team
- To be IT literate and undertake appropriate training to use local IT resources
- The post holder to ensure they understand the correct use of all the equipment used in the service, to request further training if needed and to report any technical problems or issues with that equipment
- To support the organisation in developing an effective work/life balance for visiting clinicians and still meeting the needs of the organisation and its member practices
- To recognise that promoting the welfare and safeguarding of adults is everyone's business and access training and supervision as appropriate to the role.
- To support the organisation in ensuring service users are protected from abuse, or the risk of abuse and their human rights are respected and upheld.
- To carry out any other tasks as reasonably directed and after individual discussion
Core Responsibilities: In addition to undertaking the duties as outlined above, the post-holder will be expected to fully adhere to the following:
Personal Development
- To actively participate in an annual performance review (appraisal) and the development and implementation of a personal development plan with a member of the senior management team
- To take responsibility for your own professional development ensuring professional standards are maintained and statutory and mandatory training is in date
- To receive feedback and scoring on individual cases via the Clinical Audit Toolkit and learn from this to improve clinical practice
- To attend further training as requested
Code of Conduct
- To adhere to the Professional Code of Conduct relating to your profession
- The post holder will also be required to act all times in a manner consistent with the legislation, policy and procedures in respect of Equality and Diversity, and to promote these principles within the team and take appropriate action to ensure compliance when required.
Health & Safety
- The post holder will be required to act at all times in accordance with the company's agreed policies, procedures and other forms of guidance. In keeping with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employees have a duty of care to avoid injury to themselves and others by their activities and must co-operate with the company’s policies in meeting statutory requirements.
Confidentiality and Data Security
- The post holder will be required to follow confidentiality and information security and governance policies. Any matter of a confidential nature, particularly information relating to patients, members of staff, or any of the company's business matters, must not under any circumstances be released or divulged to unauthorised persons.
Essential Selection Criteria/ Qualifications and Education: Nurse Practitioner
- Current nursing registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Relevant Post Graduate Qualification/experience in working autonomously
- Meet NMC revalidation requirements
- Working towards advanced practice
- Experience and evidence of the four pillars of advanced nursing
Qualifications and Education: Paramedic Practitioner
- Current registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Recognised higher education qualification for example Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma in Paramedic Science, Paramedic Studies or Paramedic Practice or have the BTECH Level 4 Paramedic qualification or have completed the IHCD Paramedic qualification
- Working towards achieving DipHE/PGDip/BSc/MSc Higher Education Award in the subject matter of Clinical Practice that is recognised as suitable for attracting specialist paramedic designation
- Evidence of undertaking regular and continuous personal/professional development in accordance with HCPC regulations
Knowledge & Experience
- Significant experience of working in an Emergency or Urgent Care environment (essential)
- Previous experience of visiting and autonomously assessing acutely well patients (desirable)
- Experience of working within a multi-professional team environment
- Knowledge of local polices, guidelines and systems to facilitate safe care in the community and prevent hospital admission
Skills & Abilities
- Demonstrate evidence of good verbal and written communication skills in English
- Possess strong organisational skills including planning, prioritising, time management and record keeping
- Be able to build and maintain long-term working relationships with colleagues
- Be able to recognise and work within limits of competence and to seek advice when needed
- Possess a professional and compassionate attitude to patient care, providing support while maintaining professional boundaries
Special requirements
- Full driving license with own fully insured and regularly maintained car
- Mileage expenses with wear and tear uplift to be submitted monthly to the expenses clerk
Important Information for Candidates: This role description is an outline of the post holder’s duties and responsibilities and not an exhaustive list. The nature of the organisation and post means that duties may be reviewed periodically and changed following consultation with the post holder.
Concentration and mental resilience will be required for the role, working within an unpredictable pattern with interruptions. The role will potentially include exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances, as well as dealing with service users who can at times be challenging.
Pre-employment screening
Please note that the appointment of the successful candidate will be subject to pre-employment screening, as applicable to the post and in accordance with our policy. This will include checks on right- to-work, proof of identity, enhanced DBS and references.
If you are interested in this role please can you submit:
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Hours (negotiable) : 15 hrs -37.5 hrs per week
Salary: £23 - £27 per hour Negotiable depending on experience and skills
Benefits: Schedule:
- Free or subsidised travel
COVID-19 considerations: PPE is provided, and clinicians need to be and can be provided with Covid Vaccinations
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months
Salary: £23.00-£27.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Schedule:
Licence/Certification:
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: Looking for experienced Paramedics, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Associates